saints (n.) - NFL franchise presently based in New Orleans; boondoggle (n.) - an unnecessary or wasteful project or activity; saintsdoggle (n.) - the Saints' potential relocation situation in New Orleans, and the resulting boondoggle by Louisiana to keep the team from leaving

Wednesday, November 02, 2005

Today's Washington Post includes a story on the plights of the 2005 Saints team, and features a few paragraphs on reaction to NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue's recent comments on returning the team to New Orleans.

According to the article, one source close to the negotiations on the Louisiana side was skeptical of Tagliabue's remarks regarding intentions of keeping the team in New Orleans. The anonymous source said, "That was just public relations. We know we still have to prove we can support the team here or it's off to San Antonio for one year and then on to L.A."

I had similar concerns with Tagliabue's "nonsensical" remarks regarding the potential of a Saints' move to Los Angeles.

The article also noted that Tagliabue has "made it clear that the league is not particularly interested in San Antonio as a potential permanent home for the team, which leaves virtually no other option but Los Angeles if the Saints don't return to New Orleans."

In other words, it's pretty obvious that San Antonio is out of the mix.

A San Antonio Express-News column previously mentioned on this site, the Water Cooler, today practically noted the same in an article entitled "Saints: So what now?"

The column acknowledges the city's role in the Saints' future:

"S.A., sadly, is starting to look like the other woman in a love triangle. No force majeure means Benson is going back to his wife. Be prepared to get over it."

San Antonio is the city willingly trying to break a marriage between a city and its franchise. So how can the city be surprised that its treatment of New Orleans regarding the Saints hasn't garnered much support nationally?

JERRY JONES SUPPORTIVE OF N.O.Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has come out in support of keeping the Saints in New Orleans if at all possible.

Jones was quoted in this foxsports.com story as saying, "Football has been an inspiration to people who have other troubles. There are problems throughout New Orleans and Louisiana. We owe it to those people not to take football from them."

Of course, Jones also noted that he wouldn't object to a franchise in San Antonio, even though the city largely supports his Cowboys, and in spite of the fact that another franchise exists in Houston.

But it is nice to hear one of the heavy hitters in the NFL coming out in support of making a concerted effort to keep the team in New Orleans.

A BENSON BIO BIOPSYDetroit Free Press columnist Michael Rosenberg took a detailed look at Tom Benson's online biography from the Saints' website, and then penned a column entitled "Despite his team bio, Benson's hardly a saint."

Within a great read, Rosenberg offers quips like, "Right now Benson reminds us of that 'Seinfeld' episode where George runs over all the little kids to get away from the fire."

Rosenberg also notes correctly that "pretty much the whole state of Louisiana is fed up with him."

And he's not getting much love from around the country either. Tommy Boy, can't you just take a look in the mirror? Or be visited by the ghost of New Orleans' past, present, and future?